Truss



UNITED sTATEs .PATENToFFion *l ALBERT G. BARTLETT, OF OXFORD, OHIO.

TRUSS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 5,176,`da.tewd J'une 26, 1847.

T o all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ALBERT Gr. BARTLETT, of Oxford, in the county of Butler and Statey of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trusses for the Cure or Relief of Prolapsus Uteri and Hernia; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same.y

My said invention consists of a steel mainspring which surrounds the body to which is attached an abdominal corset, and two small springs, one of which supports the perineum by means of an oval pad to which it is attached; the otherA creates a pressure by means of a wooden block applied to the abdominal rings, inguinal canal, or other parts that may be lacerated in cases of hernia.

To enable others to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct my main-spring B B (as shown by the drawing) of good steel, according to the following rule, to wit: When intended for a person of medium size, I make the main-spring one half of an inch in width; one sixteenth of an inch in thickness,

and forty-four inches long; being so formed as to surround the body as follows, to wit: That when the center A is placed over the symphisis pubis7 the spring will pass around the abdomen in nearly a horizontal direction to the point C C, about three fourths of the distance from the symphisis pubis to the inferior spinous processes of the illeum, and passing inside of the superior spinous processes of the illeum, rise obliquely on each side to the crests or speres of the illiac bones, and pass from thence in a horizontal direction around the posterior part of the body to the spinous process of the third lumbar vertebra, point D; and then descend siX inches inclining toward the anterior part of the spring and diverging laterally to the points E E which will rest on ossacrum. The advantage derived from the particular form of main-spring above described is, that the anterior portion of the spring will accurately fit the lower port-ion of the abdomen, and that the lateral portions, by passing inside of the spinous processes of the illeum, and resting upon the crests, will prevent the truss from moving from its posi-A tion, after being properly adjusted, and that the long elastic ends terminating at the points E E, will from their pecular form,

and from the form of the surface to which they are applied, give a strong upward pressure to that portion of the spring which is applied to the-inferior part of the abdomen, and thus remove the pressure of the abdominal viscera from the uterus and ligaments that support that organ, and from the `region of the abdominal rings in cases of hernia; and also give an eii'icient support'to the lower portion of thel back. l A

The abdominal corset F is made of leather and covers the spring from the points G G i to the vcenter A, and gives supportto that part of the abdomen which isencircledby the 'spring between those points.

The perineal spring K represented by dotted lines is made of steel, three eighths of an inch in width, one thirtieth of an inch thick, and eight inches long, with two inches of the lower end left round. This spring is riveted to the main-spring one inch and a half from the center A, and is then bent with strict reference to the form of the parts around which it is to pass, inclining ob- ]iquely toward the center, so that the pad when placed upon the round part of the spring shall press upon the perineum.

The pad M is formed of a small cylinder of wood M or other material, two inches and a half in length, into which the round portion of the perineal spring is inserted;

this padded with woo1,and the whole cov-A ered with leatherwhich is sewed to the cover of `the spring, making a pad two inches and a half in length.

The perineal spring is intended to support the uterus and prevent the bearing down pain usually attending the descent of that organ, by creating by means of the pad, a strong pressure upon the perineum. The cylinder M that forms the center of the pad M is intended to allow of a longitudinal motion of the round part of the perineal spring inside of the cylinder by means of said spring entering the groove 1ml which willY cause the pad to press constantly upon the perieum; the motion of the spring through the cylinder preventing the pad from being forced too far back as it otherwise would be when the wearer is sitting, stooping, &c. f

lThe hernial spring S is veinches long and of the same width and thickness as the main-spring, with a projection at the lower end one inch in length which is thrown oft' at a right angle to the body of the spring;

11okk projection on the inguinal canal.

and to the lower end of this projection the block R is attached with screws s. The hernial spring S is riveted to the mainspring B so as to throw the pressure of the' block R immediately on the parts' that have been separated by the protrusion of the bowels. The shape exactly corresponds with the anterior surface of the mainspring upon which it rests. The block R is formed of wood with t-he surface that rests upon the spring Hat and nearly oval in shape; the surface which is applied to the abdomen is irregularly convex, representing a cone, with a conical projection on one side. The hernial spring and block are intended to produce an inflammatory action and consequent. adhesion of the parts that have been separated by the protrusion of the bowels; the block is to be so adjusted that the large cone shall rest on the abdominal ring and the small The size of the block to be proportionate to the extent of the rupture. I give the springs a strong elastic temper, then pad them with wool and cover them with leather in the usual manner. The pressure of the truss is graduated by the straps O and P.

What I claim as my invention and desir to secure by Letters Patent is- The peculiar form of the main spring B B as a whole, and in combination with this form of spring I claim the form of the inguinal block R and the hernial spring S as above described; and also in combination with this form of spring, I claim the'corset F substantially as described. I also claim the mode of attaching the perineal pad M with its spring so as to allow of the longitudinal motion of the spring while the pad retains its posit-ion so as to create a constant pressure upon the perineum during the difterent motions of the body.

ALBERT G. BARTIJETT. Witnesses:

JAMES GARDNER, P. H. WATSON. 

